Bangladesh to lift Covid-19 lockdown on Wednesday

Bangladesh is planning to lift restrictions imposed more than a month ago to curb a spike in COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, allowing offices and malls to reopen and the resumption of public transport services.

Public and private offices, banks and other financial institutes are to be permitted to reopen provided they follow health guidelines, a government notice said on Sunday.

Buses, trains and ferries will be allowed to carry passengers at their full capacity, according to the notice. However, transport owners will use only half of their fleet for daily operations, in consultation with the local administration, it added.

The decision was taken in order to maintain economic activity considering the overall situation, said the notice, that was issued a day after the government launched a six-day mass inoculation campaign against Covid-19, targeting some 3.5 million people.

As infection figures soared, Bangladesh imposed a nationwide lockdown on July 1, shutting offices, shopping malls and public transport.

However, the restrictions were relaxed for nine days to enable people to move around during the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha, before the shutdown was reinstated on July 23 for another two weeks, and then extended for five more days.

Under the new guidelines, shopping malls will operate between 10 am and 8 pm every day. Restaurants are to be allowed to accommodate guests up to half their usual capacity, between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm.

Factories are to remain open, the notice said.